PHOENIX, AZ – Dominating in game one of the NBA Finals, Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns took care of business against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Returning to their first NBA Finals since 1993, former Wildcat Deandre Ayton continued his successful NBA Playoff debut finishing with a dominating 22 points and 19 rebounds in the Phoenix Suns’ 118-105.
Before the game, the energy of the crowd to get into a soon-to-be packed Talking Stick Arena in downtown Phoenix was electric.
Arizona Wildcats
Fans of the Suns organization have been thrilled to see the teams’ resurgence, a far cry from the basketball ineptitude that has engulfed the Valley for nearly the previous decade prior.
Well, an incredibly successful playoff run has the fans certainly buzzing, and that has all culminated into the teams’ first NBA title run in nearly 30 years.
Led behind the play of the 22-year old Ayton, the 24-year old rising superstar Devin Booker, and the veteran Chris Paul, the Suns took to game one of the NBA Finals to take on the Milwaukee Bucks.
Former Wildcat Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns dominate in game one of the NBA Finals to take a 1-0 lead over Milwaukee.
Tasked with the challenge of taking on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, Ayton was more than ready for the big stage.
Doing it on both ends of the floor, the Bahamian big man was stellar in his first finals appearance, especially as the team took a 30-26 lead after the first quarter, and then a 57-49 lead at halftime.
Then the Suns took off. Outscoring the Bucks 35-27 in the third quarter, Phoenix would see their lead extend to as many as 20 before Milwaukee would trim things down to 16 at the end of the third.
Leading 92-76, Phoenix would keep pace with Milwaukee in the fourth quarter, holding on to their lead and eventually winning 118-105.
Ayton would have a chance for securing rebound No. 20 in the waning moments, but unfortunately, an opportunistic Paul grabbed the ball, dribbling out the basketball as time expired.
Listen to Ayton following the teams’ game one victory!
Ayton and the Suns will return to action on Thursday when they take to Talking Stick Arena again to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Two of the NBA Finals.